The Ordination Mass, began at 11.30 am, drew people from across the Diocese of Nottingham, together with civic leaders, representatives of other Christian churches, priests, deacons and religious sisters from the Diocese of Nottingham and the Archdiocese of Birmingham, where Bishop McKinney worked as a priest before his appointment as Bishop of Nottingham, and members of his family and friends.

Bishop McKinney was ordained by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, assisted by the Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP, Archbishop of Liverpool and Bishop McKinney’s predecessor as Bishop of Nottingham, and the Most Rev Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham. Also present were His Excellency Antonio Mennini, the Apostolic Nuncio (the Pope’s representative) in Great Britain, who passed on greetings from the Holy Father, and Bishops from across England and Wales.

At the beginning of the Mass, which was attended by Sir John Peace, the Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Councillor Jackie Morris, and the Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council, Councillor Sybil Fielding, a minute’s silence was held in memory of the victims of the recent terrorist atrocities in Tunisia.

During the Mass, Cardinal Nichols thanks Archbishop Malcolm for his fourteen years of ministry as Bishop of Nottingham, and Bishop Patrick thanked Mgr Thomas McGovern for the fourteen months that he spent as Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Nottingham. Bishop Patrick was greeted with warm applause as he sat on the cathedra for the first time at the end of the Ordination Rite.

Towards the end of Mass, as the congregation sang Te Deum laudamus, Bishop Patrick was led by Archbishop Malcolm through the Cathedral while he blessed all present.